Interactive display user interface computer and method

ABSTRACT

A hand-held portable computer is disclosed. The computer includes a housing at least partially enclosing computer electronics, a visible display screen supported by the computer housing and a handle assembly connected to the computer housing. The handle assembly includes a handle support, a support retainer affixed to the housing at a location opposite the screen and a handle supported by the handle support. The support retainer adjustably connects the handle support to the computer housing. In the preferred embodiment, the handle support is rotatably adjustable with respect to the computer housing. The handle support includes an annular ring having a plurality of indentations on one surface and the support retainer includes a detent which engages a selected one of the indentations to secure the handle support in a desired rotational orientation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation application of U.S.application Ser. No. 08/341,429, filed Nov. 17, 1994 and issued as U.S.Pat. No. 6,266,045 on Jul. 24, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. application Ser. No. 08/268,806 to Meyerson et al. entitled“Configurable Electronic Work Slate Unit” filed on Jun. 30, 1994 andissued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,470 on Jan. 17, 1997.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a hand-held portable computer and, moreparticularly, to a hand-held computer with an adjustable handle.

BACKGROUND ART

Hand-held portable computers are used by a variety of enterprisesincluding manufacturing firms, department, grocery and drug stores,transportation companies, package delivery services, insurance firms andutility companies. Hand-held computers are advantageously employed tofacilitate such diverse business functions as inventory control,production scheduling and expediting, billing and both package routetracking.

Hand-held computers, including pen computers and touch screen computers,are gaining popularity in the hand-held computer market. A pen computeris a portable computer including a housing enclosing a microprocessorand associated circuitry and an interactive visible display screen,often referred to as an electronic workslate. Instead of using akeyboard to enter data and initiate processing routines, a pen computerutilizes either a cordless electromagnetic pen or an electromagnetic pentethered to the housing to interact with the microprocessor. Byappropriately touching the display screen with the pen, a user manyinput data and access stored data, boot tip in operating system, changescreen displays or menus, select and run programs from a set ofapplication and utility programs stored in computer memory and enterprocessing or query commands. The pen computer also includes atransceiver for transmitting and receiving data via radio frequencysignals and input/output ports to interface with various devices.

A touch screen computer is similar to a pen computer but, instead ofusing an electromagnetic pen to interface with the computer, a touchsensitive display screen is provided and the user interfaces with thecomputer by appropriately touching areas of the display screen with hisor her finger to execute commands, enter data, respond to prompts, etc.

As user mobility is a key advantage of hand-held computers, suchcomputers will often be operated by a user who is standing or walking,e.g., a user entering inventory data into the computer while walkingthrough a warehouse. To use a pen computer in standing position, theelectronic pen is grasped in the user's writing hand while the housingis supported in the other hand by grasping an edge of the housing withthe hand such that the user's fingers extend over a bottom surface ofthe housing and a thumb extends over a portion of an upper surface ofthe computer housing. Alternately, the computer may be supported by theuser's forearm. In this position, a lower surface of the computer restson the forearm and palm and the user grips the computer by curling hisor her fingers curl over an edge of the housing. Either method ofholding the computer is awkward and tiring and requires an applicationof significant force by user to grip the computer. In addition,repetitive use of the computer can cause discomfort because the usermust angle his or her wrist to orient the display screen in a readableposition.

The weight of a pen computer is appreciable, approximately five pounds.Holding such a five pound instrument for extended periods with one handwill induce fatigue in the user's grasping hand, wrist and arm.Compounding this problem is the fact that the user must use the pen inhis or her writing hand, thereby precluding the possibility ofalternating the hand holding the computer to ameliorate fatigue.

Similarly, a touch screen computer is held in one hand or supported bythe user's forearm as described above. The user employs the index fingerof his or her free hand (usually the writing hand) to appropriatelytouch the screen.

Ergonomic theories teach the importance of designing products suitableto human physiological capabilities and limitations. A pen computer ortouch screen computer which does not provide an ergonomically propermeans of holding and positioning the computer can lead to a markeddecline in user productivity as the work day continues as a result ofincreasing fatigue. Additionally, subjecting a user of a pen or touchscreen computer to hand, wrist and arm fatigue may result in long termhealth problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A hand-held portable computer made according to this invention includesa housing at least partially enclosing computer electronics, a visibledisplay screen supported by the housing and a handle assembly connectedto the housing. The handle assembly includes a handle support, a supportretainer affixed to the housing at a location opposite the screen and ahandle supported by the handle support. The support retainer adjustablyconnects the handle support to the housing.

In the preferred embodiment, the handle support is rotatably adjustablewith respect to the housing, The handle support includes an annular ringhaving a indentations on one surface and the support retainer includes adetent which engages an aligned one of the indentations to secure thehandle support in a desired rotational orientation. The support retainerfurther includes an annular surface and shoulder adjacent its outerperiphery providing thrust and bearing surfaces for the handle supportannular ring. The annular ring includes a pair of handle attachmentmembers which extend outwardly from the annular ring and away from thehousing. The handle attachment members optionally support a plurality ofhandle configurations.

As the handle support and handle may be rotatably adjusted with respectto the housing, a user of the pen computer will choose a rotationorientation which is comfortable and secure. If the user tires of achosen handle orientation, the position of the handle may beexpeditiously changed to a new desired position. Additionally, a varietyof handle configuration afford the user the opportunity to select anergonomically proper handle size and shape.

In an alternate embodiment, the handle assembly functions as a universaljoint in that it is both rotatably and pivotably adjustable with respectto the housing. The handle assembly includes a handle support rotatablyaffixed to the housing, a pair of handle attachment extensions hinged tothe handle support and a handle supported by the pair of handleattachment extensions. A cam latching mechanism secures the handlesupport in a desired rotational orientation with respect to the housing.A surface of the housing facing the handle support assembly includes aplurality of aligned indentations. A detent affixed to the handlesupport interfits with an aligned one of the indentations to secure thehandle support in the desired rotational orientation. Another camlatching mechanism secures the handle attachment extensions and thehandle in a desired angular position with respect to the housing. Thecam hatching mechanism includes a plurality of indentations on one ofthe handle support and the handle attachment extension and other of thehandle support and handle attachment extension has a detent whichengages an aligned one of the indentations to secure the handleattachment extension in the desired angular orientation.

This embodiment provides an additional flexibility in positioning thehandle as the handle is both rotationally and pivotably adjustable withrespect to the housing. The handle may be advantageously pivoted to aposition adjacent the housing when the computer is not being usedthereby moving the handle out of harm's way, providing a streamlinedappearance and occupying a minimum of space.

In a third embodiment, the computer includes a display screen housingsupporting a visible display screen and a computer housing and handleassembly. The computer housing and handle assembly is rotatably affixedto the display screen housing. The computer housing and handle assemblyincludes a computer housing which encloses computer electronics, ahandle subassembly is coupled to the computer housing and includes ahandle for holding the computer and a cam latching mechanism to securethe computer housing and handle assembly in a desired rotationalorientation with respect to the display screen housing. The cam latchingmechanism includes a plurality of indentations on one of the displayscreen housing and the housing and handle assembly and the other of thetwo includes a detent which engages an aligned one of the indentationsto secure the housing and handle assembly in the desired rotationalorientation. The latching cam mechanism further includes a detentbiasing means for biasing the detent to engage the aligned indentation.

In another embodiment, the handle assembly includes a raised memberwhich slidably interfits in a slot in the computer housing. The user canslide the handle assembly along a path of travel parallel to a surfaceof the computer housing to a selected position.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention willbecome better understood from a detailed description of a preferredembodiment which is described in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the hand-held computer of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the computer of FIG. 1 showing arotatably adjustable handle assembly;

FIG. 3 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, ofthe computer shown in FIG. 1, the sectional portion of the view as seenfrom the plane indicated by line 3—3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged sectional view of a cam latching mechanism of thehandle assembly as seen from the plane indicated by line 3A—3A of FIG.2, an engaged position being shown in solid and a nonengaged positionbeing shown in phantom;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the handle assembly of FIG. 2, a secondposition of a handle support and handle are shown in phantom;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a hand-held computer having a pivotingand rotatably adjustable handle assembly;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the computer of FIG. 5 as seen from theplane indicated by line 6—6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plane view of a held computer having a housingrotatably adjustable with respect to a visible display screen;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the computer of FIG. 7 as seen from theplane indicated by line 8—8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a hand-held computer having anadjustable handle assembly which a user may selectively position along apath of travel parallel to a surface of the computer housing;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view showing the attachment structureof the handle assembly and the housing of the hand-held computer of FIG.9 showing the attachment structure between the handle assembly and thehousing; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a hand-held computer having a pivotinghandle assembly wherein the handle assembly is affixed to an uppersurface of a housing, the upper surface of the housing supporting avideo display screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the preferred embodimentof a hand-held computer, shown generally at 10. The computer 10 includesa housing 12 enclosing a microprocessor (not shown) and associatedcomputer circuitry (not shown). An interactive display screen 14(FIG. 1) is coupled to and forms a part of the housing 12. An electronicpen 15, which is not attached to the computer 10, is employed by a userof the computer to input data and commands by appropriately touching atip of the pen to the display screen 14. Of course, it should beappreciated that the electronic pen 15 may be tethered to the housing12. A handle assembly 20 is attached to the housing 12 adjacent ahousing surface 16 opposite the display screen 14.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the handle assembly 20 includes a handle support22, a support retainer 24 and a handle 26. The handle support 22includes an annular ring 30 having a plurality of indentations 32separated by rounded raised cam portions or ridges 33. The cam portions33 are formed in a housing support surface facing the support retainer24. The handle support 32 also includes a pair of handle attachmentmembers 34. Each handle attachment member 34 includes an extendingportion 35 which extends outwardly from the annular ring 30 and anangled portion 36 extending away from the housing surface 16.

The annular ring 30 is rotatably secured between the support retainer 24and the housing surface 16. A screw 40 connects the support retainer 24to the housing 12 and, thereby, secures the handle support 22 in place.The screw 40 extends through an aperture 42 in the support retainer 24and is threaded into a bore 44 in the housing 12. To provide a cleanappearance, a cap 46 snaps onto the support retainer 24 and overlies ahead portion of the screw 40.

The annular ring 30 is rotatable with respect to the housing 12 and thesupport retainer 24. If the coupling between the support retainer 24 andthe housing 12 provided by the screw 40 is sufficiently tight, thefrictional forces opposing relative movement between the annular ring 30and the housing and support retainer will be sufficient to hold thehandle support 22 in a desired rotational position with respect to thehousing. Alternatively, a friction brake (not shown) could be used tosecure the handle support 22 in the desired position. Preferably,however, the support retainer 24 includes a cam latching mechanism inthe form of a detent 50 which interfits into an aligned one of theannular ring indentions 32. As can best be seen in FIG. 3A, the detent50 is biased toward engaged positions. The biasing of the detent 50toward engaged positions may result from the resiliency of a materialthe detent is comprised of, for example, polypropylene or anotherresilient plastic or vinyl material. Alternately and preferably, aspring (not shown) is operably interposed between the detent and asurface of the support retainer to provide the desired engagementbiasing.

To rotate the handle support 22 with respect to the housing 12, the userholds the housing with one hand and grasps the handle 26 with the otherhand and relatively rotates them. Two handle positions (one being inphantom) are shown in FIG. 4. When a sufficient force is applied to thehandle 26, the attached annular ring 30 will rotate with respect to thehousing 12 and the support retainer 24. The detent 50, affixed to thesupport retainer 24, remains rotatively stationary and functions as acam follower as it bears against and follows the rotating annular ringsurface. As shown in phantom in FIG. 3A, the detent 50 will be displacedfrom its indentation engaged position when a ridge 33, separatingadjacent indentations 32, cams the detent. The detent 50 will ride lipone face of the ridge and down an opposing face as the annular ring 30is rotated. The camming action of the detent 50 is facilitated by atapered surface contour of the ridges 33. Additionally, a bearingsurface 52 of the detent 50 is also tapered. Once the handle 26 is inthe desired rotational position with respect to the housing 12, thecomputer 10 is ready for operation.

The support retainer 24 further includes in annular surface and shoulder54 (shown in FIG. 3 and in phantom in FIG. 2) adjacent an outerperipheral surface which provides thrust bearing and radial bearingsurfaces for the annular ring 30. The angled portions 36 of the handleattachment members 34 terminate in end pieces 56 which include recessedportions (not shown) having central apertures. The handle 26 is securedbetween the recessed endpieces. A selected one of a variety of handleconfigurations may be employed a including straight cylindrical handle(shown in FIGS. 1-4), an arcuate handle (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6), etc.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS.5 and 6. In this embodiment, a pen computer 60 includes a handleassembly 62 including handle support 64 rotatably attached to a computerhousing 66. A screw (not shown) overlied by a cap 67 secures the handlesupport 64 to the housing 66. A surface of the computer housing 66includes in aligned plurality of indentations 68 spaced apart by raisedcam portions or ridges. The indentations 68 define a camming surface fora detent 70 protruding from a surface of the handle support 64 facingthe housing 66. The detent and camming surface comprise a cam latchingmechanism which secures the handle support 64 in a desired rotationalorientation with respect to the housing 66.

Additionally, the handle assembly 62 includes a pair of handleattachment extensions 72. The handle attachment extensions 72 support anarcuately curved handle 74 and are hinged to the handle support 64 forpivotal adjustment with respect to the housing 66. Another cam latchingmechanism is provided to secure the handle attachment extensions 72 in aselected angular relationship with respect to the housing 66. The camlatching mechanism includes a detent (not shown) affixed to one of thehandle support extensions 68. This detent interfits with a selected oneof an aligned plurality of indentations (not shown) on the handlesupport 64 to secure the handle attachment extensions 72 in the desiredangular orientation with respect to the housing 66.

Extreme adjustment positions of the handle support extensions 72 and thehandle 74 are respectively shown in phantom and solid lines in FIGS. 5and 6. The phantom position would be used when the computer 60 is not inoperation. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the phantom position provides a“low profile” look to the computer and positions the handle 74 andhandle attachment extensions 72 out of harm's way.

A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.In this embodiment, a hand-held computer 80 includes a display screenhousing 82 supporting at display screen (not shown). The computer 80also includes a computer housing and handle assembly 84 rotatablysecured to the display screen housing 82. The computer housing andhandle assembly 84 includes a computer housing 86 and a handlesubassembly 88. A surface of the display screen housing 82 includes analigned plurality of indentations 89 (shown in phantom in FIG. 7) spacedapart by raised cam portions or ridges (also shown in phantom). Theindentations 89 and ridges define a camming surface for a detent 90protruding from a surface of the computer housing 86 facing the, displayscreen housing 82. The detent and camming surface comprise a camlatching mechanism which secures the computer housing and handleassembly 84 in a desired rotational orientation with respect to thedisplay screen housing 82. Alternately, the positions of the detent 90and camming surface may be reversed, that is, the aligned plurality ofindentations 88 may be disposed on a surface of the computer housing 86and the detent 90 may protrude from a surface of the display screenhousing 82 facing the computer housing 86.

The handle assembly 88 also includes a pair of handle attachmentextensions 94 supporting a handle 96. The handle attachment extensions94 are hinged to a support member (not shown) of the handle assembly 88so as to pivot with respect to the display screen housing 82. Anothercam latching mechanism (not shown) is provided to secure the handleattachment extensions 94 in a desired angular orientation with respectto the display screen housing 82 is described in the previousembodiment.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.In this embodiment, a hand-held computer 100 includes a handle assembly102 slidably adjustable in a line parallel to a surface 104 of a housing106. The housing surface 104 preferably includes two spaced-apartparallel slots 108 (although it should he understood that one slot wouldbe sufficient to perform the function). As can best be seen in FIG. 10,the handle assembly 102 includes two parallel extensions 110 whichextend from a base 112 of a hand support 114 and slidably interfit inrespective slots 108. The extensions 110 are T-shaped in cross-sectionand are sized to snugly interfit in the slots 108. The interfit is tightenough such that frictional forces prevent the handle assembly 102 fromfreely moving along its path of travel but not so tight as to preventthe user from moving the handle assembly by applying a force to he orshe desires to change the handle position.

Alternately, a cam latching mechanism could be provided to insurepositive latching of the handle assembly 102 in the selected position.The cam latching mechanism would be comprised of a plurality of surfaceindentations (not shown) in a portion of one of the slots 108 and aninterfitting detent (not shown) extending from a corresponding surfaceof the one of the handle assembly extensions 110. Alternatively, therelative positions of the surface indentations and the detent could bereversed, with the plurality of surface indentations (not shown) in aportion of one of the handle assembly extensions 110 and the detent (notshown) extending from a corresponding surface of the one of the handleassembly extensions 110.

Yet another embodiment of a hand-held computer 120 of the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 11. In this embodiment, a handle assembly 122is pivotably adjustable with respect to a housing 124. The handleassembly 122 includes a pair of handle attachment extensions 126supporting a handle 128. The handle extensions 126 are affixed to acylindrical pin 130. Ends of the pin 130 are rotatably supported byflanges 132 extending from the housing upper surface.

A cam latching mechanism is provided to permit the handle attachmentextensions 126 to be pivotally adjusted and secured in a selectedangular relationship with respect to the housing upper surface. The camlatching mechanism includes a detent (not shown) affixed to one of thehandle attachment extensions 126. This detent interfits with a selectedone of an aligned plurality of indentations (not shown) on one of theflanges 132 to secure the handle attachment extensions 72 in theselected position. Alternatively, the cam latching mechanism couldreverse the respective positions of the detent and the plurality ofindentations, with the detent affixed to one of the flanges 132 and theplurality of indentations on the handle attachment extensions 72.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction, operation andthe combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer housing and handle assembly forsupporting a display screen housing, the housing and handle assemblycomprising: a) a computer housing including an upper surface adapted tosupport the display screen housing; b) a handle assembly coupled to thecomputer housing, the handle assembly including a handle attachmentextension pivotally connected to the computer housing and extending awayfrom the upper surface of the computer housing; c) the handle assemblyfurther including a handle extending transversely from the handleattachment extension near a first end of the handle attachment extensionfor use by a user in supporting the display screen housing and thehousing and handle assembly; and d) a cam latching mechanism on abuttingsurfaces of a second end of the handle attachment extension and thecomputer housing such that the handle attachment extension may beoriented in a selected one of a plurality of angular orientations withrespect to the upper surface of the computer housing, the cam latchingmechanism including a detent extending from one of the second end of thehandle attachment extension and an abutting surface of the computerhousing and a mating camming surface formed in the other of the secondend of the handle attachment extension and the abutting surface of thecomputer housing the camming surface releasably receiving the detent ina plurality of positions thereby providing for the plurality of angularorientations of the handle attachment extension.
 2. The computer housingand handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the camming surface comprises analigned plurality of spaced apart indentations, each of the spaced apartindentations of the camming surface being sized to releasably receivethe detent.
 3. The computer housing and handle assembly of claim 1wherein the camming surface comprises an aligned plurality of spacedapart raised portions, each of the spaced apart raised portions of thecamming surface being sized to releasably receive the detent betweenadjacent pairs of raised portions.
 4. The computer housing and handleassembly of claim 1 further including a detent extending from the uppersurface of the computer housing which forms part of a second camlatching mechanism formed on abutting surfaces of the display screenhousing and the upper surface of the computer housing to permit relativerotation between the computer housing and handle assembly and thedisplay screen housing.
 5. The computer housing and handle assembly ofclaim 1 further including a camming surface formed in the upper surfaceof the computer housing which forms part of a second cam latchingmechanism formed on abutting surfaces of the display screen housing andthe upper surface of the computer housing to permit relative rotationbetween the computer housing and handle assembly and the display screenhousing.
 6. The computer housing and handle assembly of claim 1 whereinthe handle assembly includes a second handle attachment extensionpivotally connected to the computer housing and extending away from theupper surface of the computer housing, the handle connected to near afirst end of the second handle attachment extension.
 7. The computerhousing and handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the computer housingincludes an interior space for housing computer components.
 8. Thecomputer housing and handle assembly of claim 1 wherein the handleassembly includes an interior space for housing computer components. 9.The computer housing and handle assembly of claim 1 wherein an outersurface of the handle is cylindrical.
 10. The computer housing andhandle assembly of claim 1 wherein the computer housing is generallyrectangular shaped.